Volkswagen Golf update to debut at Geneva motor show – report

An updated version of the Volkswagen Golf will reportedly make its world debut at the 2016 Geneva motor show in March.

German publication AutoBild reports that the updated VW Golf will bring a range of technological updates, not to mention new engines and new styling.

The report suggests that the new face of the Golf will be sharper than the current version, with likely revisions to the grille, bumpers and the headlights, which are expected to switch to LEDs.

The current Golf sold in Australia has a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine in the standard range, while the Golf GTI and Golf R models are powered by 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines in varying states of tune.

The new engines confirmed by Volkswagen recently will see the 1.4-litre petrol models jump in displacement to 1.5 litres, while the 1.6-litre diesel – not sold here – will drop to a 1.5L. However, these engines may not go on stream until 2017.

New interior trims are likely, but there’s also a chance that the fully-digital instrument cluster seen in the Passat (and Audi models such as the TT and Q7) will be seen in some versions of the new model – possibly the GTI and R models.

Speaking of the R, Volkswagen is expected to release a limited run of the Golf R420 – yeah, they decided that 400 horsepower (294kW) in the Golf R400 wasn’t enough, so the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine in the R420 will pump out 420hp (309kW) – later in 2016. Apparently the aim was to better the Mercedes-AMG A45, which has 280kW of power.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Golf GTE is reportedly set to get an updated plug-in hybrid drivetrain, the same seen in the Passat GTE. That means 162kW instead of 150kW, and 400Nm instead of 350Nm. Consumption is already miserly, at a claimed 1.5 litres per 100km.

A spokesperson for Volkswagen Australia indicated there was no detailed information currently available regarding any such updated Golf debuting at the 2016 Geneva motor show.